I’ve worked around endurance events long enough to know that the real story is not what happens on event day, but what happens in the months leading up to event day: the early alarms, the work when motivation is thin, the small decisions that stack up into something bigger than you expected. And sometimes the real story is a single sentence that cuts through everything. At the start of the 2024 CAF Cycling Challenge in Healdsburg, Drew Asaro said it best (I'm paraphrasing!): “Riding bikes together is fun and I hope we can do it together forever and ever.” Those words, "… do it together forever and ever" really resonated with me. That’s the feeling that I think I chase every time I pedal, run, or do any endurance sport—doing something fun and challenging together. This is why I’m running the 2026 NYC Marathon to raise funds for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). CAF represents the best of what sport can be together: a place to belong, a way back after life changes, and a mission carried forward with creativity and joy.

CAF has given me so much over the years, with the greatest gift being community. Here are the three main reasons CAF and this fundraiser have meaning to me:

1) CAF builds a community that makes people feel like they’re not doing this alone

CAF builds a community that connects athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, and supporters around a shared belief: sport should be accessible, and athletic identity shouldn’t disappear because life changes.

What I admire is how real that community is:

  • People show up for each other, not just for events but in the in-between

  • New athletes are welcomed without being “othered”

  • Progress is celebrated at every level—not just the progress of those who reach a podium

When you support CAF, you’re not just funding a program. You’re strengthening a network that helps people stay connected to sport—and to each other.

2) CAF changes lives by bringing people back into sports

There’s a moment a lot of us know well: the moment you realize you miss who you were when something you no longer do or are not able to do was such a big part of your life. For athletes who have experienced extreme physical challenges—whether from injury, illness, or other life events—getting “back” isn’t only about equipment or training. It’s about confidence, identity, and the ability to participate fully.

CAF helps remove the barriers that keep people on the sidelines. And the ripple effect goes far beyond a single event or program:

  • Sport becomes a pathway back to independence

  • Events and programs becomes a reason to set goals again

  • Showing up and being able to participate becomes a reminder that capability is still there

That’s why I’m proud to run for CAF. Because “getting back into sports” isn’t a slogan—it’s a real, measurable change in someone’s day-to-day life.

3) CAF brings relentless dedication to the mission—with creative programming and fun events

A mission is only as strong as the consistency behind it. CAF’s dedication shows up in the way it keeps participants engaged through creative programming and genuinely fun events. CAF proves you can be mission-driven and always create joy.

The result is a culture that sustains participation:

  • Programs that meet athletes where they are

  • Events that build momentum and motivation

  • Experiences that remind people why sport is worth fighting for

I’m inspired by that approach because it reflects something I believe deeply: the best organizations don’t just provide support—they create reasons to keep going.

Why the NYC Marathon

I live in Nyack, NY and the NYC Marathon is in my backyard, which makes it hard to resist. But this isn’t just about convenience or the spectacle (though NYC brings plenty of that). It’s about making a further impact for CAF through fundraising—and it’s personal.

I’m running in honor of Scott Carrlee, who taught me to embrace endurance sports and challenges that are out of my comfort zone. Scott passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018. Even though Scott was not a challenged athlete, all the lessons surrounding endurance sports and setting yourself up to try—and maybe fail—at enormous endurance challenges, I learned from Scott. He taught me to show up in the way I prepare: keep showing up, always learn, respect the work, and don’t underestimate what consistency can do over time.

That’s what this marathon represents to me: a chance to take something I love (endurance sports), in a place that’s home (NY), and turn it into support (for CAF) that helps more athletes get back to the sports that make them feel alive.

Support this effort

If you’re able to contribute, I’d be grateful. Your donation helps CAF continue building community, expanding access to sport, and delivering the kind of programming that brings people back—stronger and more connected than before.

Donate here: https://give.challengedathletes.org/participants/Robert-Panzera

Thank you for being part of this with me. I’ll carry your support from Staten Island to Central Park—and I’ll be thinking about that simple hope: that we get to do this together, forever and ever.

In Future Blogs

I'll update this space with more posts that highlight some incredible people and moments that CAF has provided over the years. Plus, I'll add in some posts with my training approaches to complete the marathon, but more importantly to get to the marathon start without getting injured. I'm no spring chicken these days!

Thanks for reading,

Rob